Audition Information Packet Ages 13-19

Our summer Teen Thespian production is an exclusive program for teens who have displayed not only outstanding performance skills, but also an excellent work ethic and professional attitude. Students are accepted to this program by audition only, and perform not only for an audience of family and friends, but also as part of our Bravo Jr. series for young audiences.

About the Casting Process An audition is required to participate in the program. Please call 773.445.3838 x216 to reserve an audition slot.

Auditions will be held: May 26 and 27, 4-7pm

• Audition slots will be 5 minutes in length • Acting: Prepare a memorized comedic monologue that is two minutes or less in length. Monologues can be from any source, but actors are encouraged to choose monologues that demonstrate the ability to play broad, high-energy characters. • Singing: Actors are asked to sing 16 bars (about the length of one chorus or verse of a song) a capella (without piano). Actors should choose a song that they enjoy singing which is comfortably within their range. Any style of music is acceptable for the initial audition. • Students who are invited to callbacks may be asked to learn and short vocal selection and/or dance number from the production, as well as participate in cold readings. • Please take a look at the rehearsal, tech, and performance schedule on Page 2 and come to the auditions prepared to note any conflicts on your audition sheet.

Callbacks will be held: May 28, 4-8pm Please Note: We call back about half of the actors who will be cast. If you are not invited to callbacks, you may still have a role in the production!

The Cast List will sent out via e-mail and posted on the BAC School of Theater Callboard by Noon on Saturday, May 30.

Casting Policy: • Students are cast in age-appropriate roles without regard for race, ethnicity, or physical appearance. Most roles are non-gender specific. Please see role descriptions for more information. • We try to cast everyone who auditions. However, we also need to maintain a cast size that fosters a positive learning environment and is appropriate for the needs of the show. For that reason, if over 30 students audition we may choose to make cuts when casting.

A Frequently asked question about BAC Internships: Many students ask whether they can participate in our show if they are a summer intern at the BAC. Conflicts for most internship positions can be accommodated in our rehearsal schedule, but the Assistant Director and Stage Manager interns for Aladdin may not be actors in the show.

1 After the Cast List is Posted

Contract Meeting All actors cast are required to attend our contract meeting on Monday, June 1 from 7-8pm. Students under the age of 16 must be joined by a parent or legal guardian.

Students accepted into the cast of Aladdin will be working as though they are professional actors. As such, all students who are accepted into the program will be required, along with a parent or guardian, to sign a commitment to the schedule and behavior requirements of the program. On contract night we will also review the schedule, discuss rules and regulations in detail, and answer any remaining questions about the program.

Rehearsals will be scheduled as follows. Most actors will not be needed at all rehearsals. There will be some exceptions—lead actors will be called to most rehearsals, and students will be called more often as the production date approaches. All actors will receive a rehearsal schedule on June 8 that indicates exactly when they are called for the full rehearsal period.

June 8-June 11: Monday-Thursday 5-8pm June 15-July 7: Monday-Thursday, 2-5pm

Tech Rehearsals: (attendance mandatory for all cast members) July 8: 2-5pm July 9: 2-5pm July 10: 2-5pm July 13: 2-6pm July 14: 2-5pm

Performances: July 15, 10:30am July 16, 10:30am and 7pm July 17, 10:30am and 7pm

Participation Fees The participation fee for Aladdin is $130. Register for an audition before the Summer Early Bird Deadline and pay only $117! Members who register Early Bird pay only $106! In order to participate in Aladdin, students who are accepted must be paid in full by Friday, June 5.

This includes: • Professional-level training in acting, vocal music, and dance from experienced performer/educators at the top of their fields. • An opportunity to rehearse, perform with, and learn from professional adult actors. • Use of the spectacular Beverly Arts Center facilities, including our professional dance studio, spacious rehearsal rooms, and, of course, performances in our beautiful 400-seat mainstage theater. • Performance on a professional-quality set, with use of our recently improved sound and lighting systems. • Any specialty costume items.

2 Aladdin Role Descriptions Narrators: Mysterious travelling storytellers Actor Gender: Male or Female Role Size: Support Role Requirements: All sing solo, dance with ensemble, several lines each. Character Description: A smaill group of traveling storytellers who set the scene for the show. The Narrators continue to appear throughout the show and often introduce a character by singing or speaking to the audience. Narrators must have strong, clear singing voices and an engaging “storyteller” presence when they speak.

Princess Jasmine: The headstrong rebel Actor Gender: Female Role Size: Lead Role Requirements: Sings solo, limited dance, many lines Character Description: Jasmine is an independent female with a mind of her own—unfortunately, everyone she knows seems to be determined to tell her how to live her life. The actress playing this role needs a clear, clean singing voice and the ability to play a strong woman on stage. Must also be physically capable of basic stage combat moves.

Aladdin: The incorrigible heartthrob Actor Gender: Male Role Size: Lead Role Requirements: Sing solo, dance with ensemble, many lines. Character Description: A street kid in the city of Agrabah, Aladdin means well but always seems to get into trouble. He is loveable and mischievous, smart and a little sarcastic. The actor playing this role must be physically comfortable doing some very demanding jumping, rolling, and climbing.

Jafar: The Big Bad Actor Gender: Male Role Size: Lead Role Requirements: Sings solo, many lines, no dance. Character Description: Pure evil, power-hungry, and remorseless. Requires a commanding stage presence, strong character voice, and the ability to create an over-the top but believable character.

Iago: The evil sidekick Actor Gender: Male or Female Role Size: Supporting Role Requirements: Does not sing, many lines, must puppeteer parts or all of costume! Character Description: Jafar’s wise-cracking evil pet and closest advisor. This role is part costume, part puppet. The actor must be physically versatile and willing to work hard on the technical aspects of the performance. Additionally, the actor must create a broad character and have excellent comedic timing.

Genie: The magic maven Actor Gender: Male or Female Role Size: Lead Role Requirements: Sings solo, many lines, lots of dance (gymnastic ability a plus) Character Description: The ever-impressive, long-enclosed, often-imitated, but never duplicated, Genie of the Lamp. The actor playing this roll needs the ability to play about a dozen characters rolled into one, each with a different distinct voice and personality. We are not looking for a Robin Williams impersonation—please be prepared to show us your own unique interpretation of the role! This actor must be physically adventurous and agile as well as willing to improvise and try new things in rehearsal.

3 Sultan: The well-meaning father Actor Gender: Male Role Size: Supporting Role Requirements: Does not sing, several lines, does not dance. Character Description: The well-meaning Sultan just wants to see his daughter happy, but mistakenly thinks that forcing her to get married is the way to go. There are many possible ways to characterize the sultan—be creative!

Magic Carpet: Silent but spectacular Actor Genders: Male and/or Female Role Size: Supporting Role Requirements: Does not sing or have lines, requires a strong puppeteer or puppetteers Character Description: Though it does not speak, the Magic Carpet is an integral character in the story of Aladdin. Our Magic Carpet will be puppeteer by 1-2 actors who must be able to create a sense of emotion and expression using an inanimate object. A challenging but fun role for a great physical actor or team of actors.

Razoul: Captain of the Guard Actor Gender: Male or Female Role Size: Supporting Role Requirements: Does not sing, several lines, some stage combat. Character Description: Razoul is a classic bully who loves to exercize the little power he (or she!) has. A great role for a character actor—there are many ways this character could be portrayed. Must be physically capable of basic stage combat moves.

Guards: The comedic muscle Actor Gender: Male and/or Female Role Size: Supporting Role Requirements: Sing duet (or trio), several lines each, some dance, some stage combat. Character Description: These two (or three) goons must play as a comedy team, working together in rehearsal to create a tag-team combo. Great parts for character actors, lots of room to create a memorable set of characers. Must be physically capable of basic stage combat.

Genie’s Chorus: Multiple personalities personified Actor Genders: Male and/or Female Role Size: Chorus Role Requirements: Sing chorally, extensive dance, gymnastic ability a plus Character Description: When the Genie sings he (or she) literally breaks out into several versions of him/herself. The Genie’s Chorus is featured as the Genie’s alternate personalities in the song Friend Like Me. We are specifically seeking actors with special physically abilities (gymnastics, advanced martial arts, extensive athletic ability) and actors who can create physically huge characters for these roles. Must be able to sing while dancing vigorously!

The Three Princes: The unsuitable suitors Actor Gender: Male Role Size: Small Feature Role Requirements: No lines, sing and dance with ensemble, physically big performances. Character Description: Before she meets Aladdin, Jasmine is introduced to three other princes—Prince Baba of Ganoush, Prince Dadú Rahn-Rahn, and the Prince formerly known as “The Artist.” These roles are featured briefly, but require a broad physical performance and the ability to create a specific character without speaking.

Townspeople: Additional feature roles Actor Genders: Male and Female Role Size: Small Feature Role Requirements: Sing chorally, dance with ensemble (some dance features), some lines Character Description: There are many additional small roles among the townspeople of Agrabah, many of which sing small solos, are featured as dancers, or have lines. We need flexible actors who can play multiple characters to create several chorus roles each.

4 Plot Synopsis Welcome to Agrabah, City of Enchantment, where every beggar has a story and every camel has a tail! The narrators enter to set the scene ("Arabian Nights"). At the palace gates, townspeople eagerly await the arrival of the royal family -- for at long last, today is the day they will learn who Princess Jasmine's future husband will be! Among the "red carpet"-like atmosphere, we catch a glimpse of our hero, Aladdin, as well as the nefarious Grand Vizier, Jafar, and his conniving parrot, Iago. Ah! Here comes the royal family! The Sultan begins to parade his perspective princes for his daughter, Jasmine, much to the crowd's delight. Jasmine tells her father that she doesn't want to marry any of these men. She wants to be the one deciding who she marries and when. The Sultan reminds her that the "law is the law," and the law says she must marry a prince...by tomorrow. Just then, we hear the police calling "thief, thief!" A loaf of bread has been stolen! Jasmine, wishing to run away, recognizes this opportunity and escapes into the chaos. At the same time, Aladdin, our bread thief, enters to avoid capture ("One Jump Ahead"). The Sultan realizes Jasmine is missing and orders a search. Jasmine, concealing her true identity, and Aladdin, who is still being chased, run into each other and decide to escape together to the marketplace. Suddenly, the guards enter to arrest Aladdin. But as they drag him away, the Princess reveals her true identity and orders them to let Aladdin go free. Razoul, the Captain of the Royal Guard, says that he is only following Jafar's orders, and that the Princess will have to take it up with Jafar. Until that happens, Aladdin is under arrest, and the Princess must return to the palace ("One Jump Ahead - Reprise"). The narrators bring us into Jafar's chamber, while the power-hungry Jafar sits hunched over a desk, scratching away at an old document with a quill pen ("Arabian Nights - Reprise 1"). Jafar reveals to Iago that he has sneakily added a new paragraph to an ancient decree, which now states that Princess Jasmine must marry him if she is unable to choose a husband within the allotted time. And furthermore, that he will inherit all the rights, privileges, and powers of the Sultan! All they have to do is make sure she doesn't choose a groom before tomorrow ("Why Me?"). Meanwhile, because the dungeons are full, the guards drag Aladdin to the outskirts of Agrabah, and throw him in a cave, filled with piles of cast-off junk ("Arabian Nights - Reprise 2"). Aladdin begins to despair, all the while pining over Jasmine. Just then, a small lamp catches Aladdin's eye. Trying to make out the writing on it, Aladdin rubs the lamp, and much to his surprise - a Genie appears ("Friend Like Me"). The Genie offers Aladdin the standard "three wish" package. Hoping to win Jasmine's affections, Aladdin wishes to be a prince. With a wave of his hands, the Genie grants this wish, transforming Aladdin into Prince Ali! Back at the palace, Jasmine pleads with her father to release Aladdin. The Sultan chastises her for running away, and reminds her that she is a princess.....a princess who must be wed tomorrow! Just then, a parade of dancers, harem girls, and attendants enter to announce the arrival of Prince Ali ("Prince Ali"). Aladdin, as Prince Ali, tells the Sultan that he has journeyed far to seek Jasmine's hand. Overjoyed at this prospect, the Sultan proclaims that he has finally found his son-in-law! The thought of a forced marriage still angers Jasmine, and she storms out. Meanwhile, Razoul informs Jafar that Aladdin escaped from the cave, where we now learn Jafar has stored all his treasures. Furious, Jafar realizes that Aladdin must have found a magic lamp, and could now be disguising himself as anyone - even Prince Ali! Unaware of Jafar's discovery, Aladdin decides to make another attempt at winning Jasmine's heart. He travels to Jasmine's terrace, where she is yearning for her poor, lost Aladdin. Still playing the part of Prince Ali, Aladdin persuades the princess to join him on a magic carpet ride ("A Whole New World"). Jasmine leaves to tell her father there is going to be a wedding after all - she and Prince Ali are going to be married! But then, Jafar and his guards rush in to capture our hero. Aladdin wishes for them to stop, and the Genie comes through again, freezing the guards in their tracks. Aladdin and the Genie escape, but accidentally forget to bring the lamp with them. Iago finds the magic lamp, and presents it to his master, Jafar ("Why Me? - Reprise"). In the throne room the wedding is in progress. Aladdin is about to admit to the Princess that he is not a Prince, when Jafar beats him to it, exposing Aladdin as a fake ("Prince Ali - Reprise"). Now that the truth is revealed, the wedding cannot continue. Jafar reads aloud from the ancient scroll he so cleverly doctored, and proclaims that now he must become Jasmine's husband, and most importantly, the next sultan! Jasmine and the Sultan try to stop Jafar, but to no avail, for Jafar now holds the power of the lamp. Jafar summons the Genie, and per Aladdin's suggestion, wishes to be the most powerful genie in the world! Seizing his chance, the Genie grants his wish, forever sealing Jafar in a tiny lamp. The Genie then reminds Aladdin that he still has one wish left. Rather than wish to be a prince again, Aladdin wishes to set his friend, the Genie, free. Aladdin apologizes to Jasmine for lying, but she says it was the law that wasn't fair. She asks her father again for his consent, and he grants it! Aladdin and Jasmine can now be married, and live happily ever after ("A Whole New World - Reprise").

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